Just One Soul

Just One Soul

For some time now, the growth rate amongst the U.S. churches of Christ has been on a steady decline. According to the national survey conducted in 2012, by the 21 Century Christian publications, the total number of adherents in the churches of Christ (number includes members and their children) has dropped 6.2 percent since 2003. Also, they report that there are 708 fewer churches of Christ in the U.S. over the last nine years, which represents a 5.4 percent decline since 2003 (Christianchronicle.org) and it doesn’t seem like the trend has changed any as of late. This current reality is something that should cause some concern, yet it need not cause us to become shaken. I believe that throughout time church growth will have it highs and its lows, depending on what is happening in our country both socially and politically. However, the question we need to ask ourselves is what kind of feelings should we need to have toward our evangelistic successes or failures?

I believe many times we look at our outreach efforts as unsuccessful, due to a small response or lack of a “big turnout”. Is this the kind of mentality God’s word teaches we should have? Is this the kind of mentality Christ had when it came to lost souls? In Christ’s parable of the “The Lost Sheep”, he taught “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over the ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:1-7). Thus, I believe this verse stands as the chief example of the kind of mentality we need to have toward our evangelistic efforts. Whatever we do as congregation evangelistically,  we are happy to do so because we are instrumentally involved in getting just one soul to repent and turn their lives over to Christ. This mentality recognizes that every effort is a success, and not a waste of time, when it leads to this outcome. Thus, resources, time and effort should be continually given and geared toward planning events to attain this goal, because we know the Bible teaches that each and every soul is important to God (John 3:16; 1Tim. 2:3-4; 1John 2:1-2).

Therefore, we need to strive to have the “just one soul” mentality, in order to keep ourselves motivated and busy doing the Lord’s work. If we are not busy doing the Lord’s work, Satan will have us busy doing something else.

— Brother Sam Barclay